A look back at the horse racing from the weekend and a look at the week ahead
Charlie Appleby said: “It was a fantastic performance from Hurricane Lane. I would like to say many congratulations to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed and team Godolphin. It’s great to win any Classic, but to win the final one and such an historic race is extra special. William said you couldn’t have asked for a better race. He had a lovely pitch round and all the room he needed. The great thing about this horse is that he quickens. For a staying horse, he has a gear change. You couldn’t have been more comfortable watching it the whole way round, he travels for fun. He has won on quick ground but is more comfortable with underfoot conditions on the slower side, like today. I thought it was a great performance and the Derby form has held up as well, with Mojo Star running a great race in second. I think there was strength in depth today and what we want to see in a Classic. I have to give a lot of credit to the team at home, who have done a fantastic job. Hurricane Lane has given us a couple of days when he has challenged us but Maurizio Pasquale, who rides him, has done a fantastic job, along with Marie Murphy, Alex Merriam and the whole team. Phil Brook, the farrier, has done a great job because Hurricane Lane takes a bit of managing getting his shoes on. I think the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe is definitely something we will keep an eye on. We will let the dust settle but I see no reason why we won’t potentially be turning up. Whether he stays in training as a four-year-old will be a discussion for the end of the season."
On the Sunday Native Trail maintained his unbeaten record and announced himself as the leading contender for next year’s 2,000 Guineas with a decisive win in the Group One Vincent O’Brien National Stakes at the Curragh. William Buick said: “Native Trail only had the two runs coming into today’s race, so he was still learning a bit on the job. I could feel throughout the race that he was still taking everything in and learning, but he answered every call I asked of him. I really liked what he did in the last 100 yards, when he really stretched clear. He felt like a very good horse and it was a strong renewal of the race. He is a fine, big horse and you would imagine that there is still improvement in him. He should get a mile no problem and it was a great performance.”Nothing like as much going on this week, as I mentioned at the weekend it does piss me off that the various international bodies can’t get together and plan these top-class meetings better, it’s ridiculous to have so much top-drawer action in one weekend across three basically neighbouring countries.
Anyway, no bets for me on Monday but there is the possibility of a few as the week progresses so make sure you check back.